Prepare your suitcase - part two

Get ready for your Erasmus! Prepare your suitcase – part two

The month of August is slowly getting to its end. It means you are even closer to your Erasmus than when I was writing about the first part of Get ready for your Erasmus – prepare your suitcase. At the moment there are some basic things that you should pack when leaving your hometown for one or two terms. You know about clothes for different occasions as well as shoes, money in the needed currency, some food and hygieneitems.

Picture: Some pieces of lothes are one of the most basic things you would pack. But remember what kind of clothes you will need.

Today, I am going to give you some more tips which I do when going somewhere where I do not know much equipment there would be in the kitchen.

Kitchen, kitchen – will you be fully equipped?

It might happen that you will leave for your Erasmus full of enthusiasm and when you will finally get to a kitchen (starving), you will realize that not only there is no pot, but you do not even have any plate/cutlery.

 I can imagine that even without things for the kitchen your suitcase is full, full, full. But what I always do is that I still put a set of cutlery in, I add also a wooden flat spoon (it occupies almost no place) and a plastic chopping board (IKEA), which needs only as little space as four sheets of paper (and the weight is probably the same). I could not leave the house without a vegetable peeler (well, I could, but if you eat vegetable a lot, it is useful to have one) and I even bought a really flat vegetable grater(so I can easily prepare Czech potato pancakes/tortillas for others).

Picture: Its is good to bring at least some basic kitchen equipment.

I usually bring also a mug, so I can drink as much as I want and as it is a thermo mug, it keeps my drinks warm when I wish drinking something warm. If you are used to drink from your specific bottle, it will be also useful to bring it. You will use it when going for trips and spending your day at university or your traineeship company.

Lunch boxes

Even if you are going to eat in a school cantina, I suggest you bringing some lunch boxes. I have got a set of 3 plastic boxes (I know I have mentioned “plastic” even above, but these things really last and I keep reusing them again and again. I use these boxes either when I have to bring a lunch to my internship company or even when I do a trip. So I just simply prepare a snack and a lunch, put it inside of those boxes and can happily spend a day outside.

Things you will appreciate when studying/working

Remember bringing a notebook with a pen and a pencil. I am sure you will find it useful when sitting at a desk at the university or when learning where the things are and how they work in your new work (traineeship) place.

I know Erasmus is about enjoying especially the free time but at some point it is also about schooling. If going to Granada, Spain and studying Primary School Teaching, believe me that you will be very busy with the university tasks which you should do at home. How happy you will be if you bring the stationeries!

Picture: Bring some stationeries!

Computer

Obviously, almost everyone who is at the university owns a laptop. If you have one, I think it not needed to mention it, but bring it. It will also help you with your studies and with orienteering in a university system when preparing your timetable (as you will probably change it many times at the beginning).

Cardboard paper or plastic folder case

As I have mentioned the timetable above, there is time for reminding you putting some folder case into your suitcase. You have got most likely many documents which you are taking with you to your new Erasmus country and as Erasmus is a lot of fun, it is also a lot of paperwork. It will be nice to have something where you will keep it nicely organised and easily reachable.

Other personal belongings

Of course, mobile phones are good to be brought. I know a person who left for abroad and remembered that she had left her phone at home when she was on the journey. The same with charges: If going somewhere where the electricity system is different, bring adapter (e. g. when going to the UK).

Books in your native language

You might also like having a book or at least a magazine in your native language for some of lazy days when you just want to relax and read. Moreover, if you interact especially with foreigners you might feel sometimes like reading in your native language.

However, this point is very, very subjective. There are people who do not like reading or have some technologies like mobile phones or an electronic reader so there is no point in bringing a book which is heavy and occupies too much space. But when I have some space in my suitcase left, I tend to fill it up and I put there a book.

Picture: There will be so many things happening in a foreign languages, so you might appreciate a book in your native language for some days full of relax.

Anything else?

Well, now it is really up to you. Check whether you have everything you really need (all documents that are needed, your ID card or a passport, some money in the specific currency, pills (if you take some)... I always say: “Money, my ID, a phone – the rest can be bought almost anywhere.”

It can be super stressful to pack everything, especially if it is your first Erasmus. But honestly, there is not such a difference when organising your suitcase for a two-week-long holiday or one semester. When I left for my last Erasmus, I expected me staying only four months. Finally I made it double and I was still using the same what I brought at the beginning. So try to worry as little as possible.

The packing is as it is but your Erasmus will be worth it (I truly hope)! Enjoy!!!

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